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In a previous post, I shared a few of my favorite non-educational books. But once you’ve chosen a great book—whether it’s a favorite educational title or something new—the real question is: What comes next? How do you move beyond simply reading to create learning experiences that leave a lasting impact on your work and your team?
In this post, I’ll share creative approaches to book studies that you can try with your PLCs, teams, campus, or other groups of colleagues. These ideas are designed to make book studies more engaging, collaborative, and actionable—while also modeling a culture of continuous professional growth.
Finding the Perfect Book
The first step in creating meaningful learning around a book is to find the right one. You may already have a title in mind that excites you, or perhaps you have a stack of books that align with your campus or district goals. Either way, take a moment to reflect on your purpose:
Are you looking to build expertise in a specific subject?
Are you preparing for a new initiative and need foundational knowledge?
Do you want to broaden perspectives, deeply apply the content, or simply learn from the insights of others?
Whether you’re starting from scratch or narrowing down options, here are some creative approaches to finding the perfect book:
Try a Book Tasting: Set up a variety of books for participants to browse, such as those tied to your campus or district initiatives. Allow attendees to skim through the books and select titles that resonate with them. This can spark individual reading or lead to team book studies. (Did you experience the Book Tasting at a previous LFTX conference?)
Host an “Anti-Book Club”: Similar to a Book Tasting, this variation invites participants to choose any book related to a central theme—such as leadership, coaching, or supporting new teachers—and come together to share insights. During the gathering, each person highlights key points and takeaways from their chosen book. This approach is ideal for exposing participants to a variety of perspectives and ideas.
Next step: Use the insights shared during the Anti-Book Club to spark ideas for a larger team book study. For example, if one book generates significant interest, consider doing a deep dive as a group.
Both the Book Tasting and Anti-Book Club provide opportunities for participants to explore options, reflect on their learning, and collectively discover books that align with their professional goals.
Explore “Book Study in a Box”: For campuses or districts with clear initiatives, pre-made book study kits can simplify the process. These “boxes” include the book, discussion questions, and other materials ready for team or PLC book studies. Leaders can check out a kit and use it for a team study, creating a seamless and accessible experience. Imagine hosting these over the summer, where teams can engage with content while building camaraderie.
Now that you’ve found the perfect book, it’s time to build excitement for a collaborative learning experience—just don’t call it a book study!
A Book Study by Any Other Name
Inspired by The Art of Gathering, I began rethinking the way I name book-focused gatherings. Instead of book studies, I started using terms like book clubs, which feel more collaborative and conversational. A club suggests a welcoming, friendly vibe where ideas flow naturally. Similarly, I heard in a podcast interview the term book circles, a name that reflects deeper connections and invites multiple interpretations of what it means to gather around a shared text.
Names matter—they set the tone and expectations for your group. And if you’re looking for fresh, clever names for your next book gathering, AI tools like ChatGPT can help spark ideas. For instance:
Instead of “Professional Book Study for Educators,” AI suggested something more inviting, like Chapter Chats or Ideas in Action.
For a more creative spin, it offered to Turn the Page Tuesdays or Boundless Learning Circles.
Want to incorporate some wordplay? Consider Plot Twists & Pedagogy or The Learning Spine.
Beyond naming, AI has helped me refine questions and prompts for book clubs, providing phrasing that encourages deeper reflection or lively discussion. It can also:
Provide background information about the author to enrich your understanding and offer context. (Always double-check the accuracy on the author’s webpage!)
Highlight key themes or even identify alternative perspectives to challenge your thinking.
Suggest follow-up activities or ways to apply what you’ve learned in practical settings.
For those who design professional learning, tools like AI can offer a starting point to make your book gatherings more engaging, purposeful, and innovative. After all, what’s in a name? Perhaps everything when it comes to creating a space where learning thrives.
On the Same Page (at the Same Time)
In a traditional book study, everyone reads the same book and meets to discuss a chapter, a section, or the entire book. While this approach is effective, there are plenty of ways to elevate the experience and make it more dynamic, purposeful, and engaging.
Add Purpose with Tasks or Activities
One way to enhance learning during a book study is by reading with a task or activity in mind. Structured protocols or thinking routines can provide focus, encourage reflection, and deepen discussions. Some of my favorite activities to use during book studies include:
Word - Phrase - Sentence: A simple way to identify and share the most meaningful parts of the text.
3-2-1 Bridge: A reflective activity to connect prior thinking to new learning.
The 4 Cs: A routine to explore connections, challenges, concepts, and changes inspired by the text.
BookSnaps: A creative way to capture key ideas visually with annotations or highlights.
Using these routines encourages participants to engage with the material on a deeper level, making the discussions richer and more focused.
Combine Synchronous and Asynchronous Engagement
Another way to elevate a traditional book study is to blend synchronous and asynchronous activities. For example:
Before meeting, participants can post their reflections on a shared Padlet board or another collaborative tool.
At the start of your synchronous session (face-to-face or virtual), you could invite participants to share their “assignment” or reflect on others’ posts.
This approach sparks meaningful dialogue as participants come prepared with both their own ideas and reactions to others’ contributions.
Think Beyond the Book
Not every group needs to commit to reading and discussing an entire book. Consider these alternatives:
Choose a single article to read together (perhaps from The Learning Professional).
Center your discussion around a podcast episode.
Use a short video or blog post to spark conversation.
The goal of these discussions is to connect participants, highlight the ideas that resonate most, and explore how to apply new learning to your work.
By expanding the definition of a traditional book study, you create opportunities for meaningful professional learning that feels fresh and purposeful.
A New Page of Book Studies
One of my proudest book study moments comes from the design of The New Pillars of Modern Teaching book study at my previous organization. What made this experience stand out was its focus on experiential learning. Participants didn’t just read the book—they applied its concepts in real-time through performance tasks aligned to each chapter.
For example, in the chapter on feedback, participants practiced giving actionable feedback to one another. These tasks allowed participants to experience the book’s ideas firsthand, making the content both meaningful and immediately applicable to their professional roles.
Other key elements of this impactful book study included:
Asynchronous and synchronous learning: We hosted Twitter chats for each chapter, which allowed participants to engage with the content—and with each other—on their own schedule. (The author of the book even popped into our chats!)
Creative reflections: Participants curated their learning into portfolios, combining reflections, resources, and takeaways.
Use of digital tools: From booksnaps to resource curation, participants had the freedom to use digital tools that aligned with their preferences, modeling best practices for technology integration.
This experiential model became a blueprint for other book studies, including a whole-team study of The Art of Gathering. For that study, we didn’t just discuss the book—we revamped the way we gathered as a team, applying the concepts from the book so participants could experience the ideas as they learned them.
Reflect and Connect
In what ways have you reimagined book studies for your teams or campus?
What strategies have you used to make book studies more engaging and impactful for professional learning?
As Katie Martin says, “Teachers create what they experience.” When book studies move beyond passive reading to active, experiential learning, participants are more likely to adapt the strategies they’ve experienced for their own teams, campuses, and classrooms. That’s the ultimate goal: fostering professional learning that inspires, ripples outward, and sparks meaningful change.
Kathryn Laster brings over 30 years of education expertise as a math teacher, instructional coach, and digital learning consultant. Now, as an independent consultant, Kathryn creates and facilitates transformative learning experiences through intentional, human-centered, tech-infused design. Connect with Kathryn at Refined Learning Design.
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